{"id":13506,"date":"2026-02-15T01:17:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T08:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/water-shortages-state-mandates-top-agenda-at-southwestern-colorado-livestock-meeting\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:38:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:38:39","slug":"water-shortages-state-mandates-top-agenda-at-southwestern-colorado-livestock-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/water-shortages-state-mandates-top-agenda-at-southwestern-colorado-livestock-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"Water shortages, state mandates top agenda at Southwestern Colorado livestock meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Producers
Producers watch during the Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association\u2019s annual meeting Saturday at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, where local officials and state and federal agency representatives delivered updates. Regional wildlife manager Adrian Archuleta provided an update from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Coffee cooled on tables and booted legs crossed beneath chairs as ranchers settled in for morning updates on wildlife, drought and fires.<\/p>\n

The familiar setting marked the annual meeting of the Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association held Saturday at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.<\/p>\n

The morning session featured reports from Montezuma County Commissioner Jim Candelaria, Dolores County Commissioner Eric Stiasny and Sheriff Steve Nowlin, along with a water update from Ken Curtis, general manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District.<\/p>\n

State Sen. Cleave Simpson, R\u2011District 6, and Rep. Larry Don Suckla, R\u2011District 58, also spoke, mainly to address the start of the new legislative year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are destroying your lives. They are destroying your local government. They are destroying your health departments. They are destroying your water,\u201d Suckla said, broadly criticizing the direction of the state government and arguing against any increase in property tax bills and assessments.<\/p>\n

Multiple speakers echoed similar criticisms of state laws that they say place requirements on counties without funding to implement them. County commissioners and Nowlin described having to comply with state mandates that strain rural departments and governments, especially with the sheriff\u2019s office already facing retention and hiring challenges.<\/p>\n

Across speakers, recurring themes included weather and water supply uncertainties, preparation for wildfire season and ongoing animal\u2013human conflicts on roads or private property.<\/p>\n

There was wide\u2011reaching participation from agency officials: the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, as well as the sheriff\u2019s office, all attending in person and taking questions.<\/p>\n

Producers asked about sometimes contentious issues including livestock on roadways, wolf reintroduction and elk-agriculture conflicts.<\/p>\n

\"Emily
Emily Wofford, left, helps serve lunch as attendees line up during the Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association\u2019s annual meeting Saturday at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. Lunch was served after the morning session. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Water outlook: Officials call it \u2018tough\u2019 year ahead<\/div>\n

Ken Curtis told attendees the district is closely watching this year\u2019s weak snowpack and unseasonably warm weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater is going to be a tough one this year,\u201d Curtis said. \u201cI expect we are going to see a weird fire season.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the timing of runoff and spring showers will matter. The office will have thorough updates April 1.<\/p>\n

Curtis said high\u2011elevation snowpack was roughly half of what it should be and described Colorado River Basin negotiations in Washington, D.C., as unsettled.<\/p>\n

He said Colorado and Arizona remain divided over how much the Upper Basin should reduce its water use, with Arizona pointing to past Supreme Court wins as justification for deeper cuts.<\/p>\n

\"Beverly
Beverly Scott, left, and Queenie Barz help organize raffle tickets during the Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association\u2019s annual meeting Saturday. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
Sheriff delivers report on service calls, livestock, proposed gun law<\/div>\n

Nowlin delivered his annual snapshot of the sheriff\u2019s office, reporting 14,951 calls for service last year. He said livestock issues made up a larger workload, including dozens of calls tied to dogs running loose on highways and county roads. Livestock calls totaled 245, with busy periods in June and again in January and February. He predicted another active fire season as drought conditions worsen.<\/p>\n

During a question\u2011and\u2011answer period, Nowlin said he remains concerned about staffing and retention. His office continues to grapple with a steady stream of new state laws.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can tell you we are having to deal with a lot of state laws that are coming down. A lot of these laws are directed to the sheriff,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Nowlin said he opposed a new state bill proposing firearm restrictions, criticizing its compliance requirements and certain firearm bans, which he said could create administrative burdens for the sheriff and raise privacy concerns. He emphasized that he views his role as protecting civil liberties while navigating legal consequences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m talking about 98% of our citizens in this county who are gun owners are lawful gun owners and responsible gun owners. But here\u2019s the real problem: It is a money maker for the state,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

CPW talk focuses on wolves, deer disease and conflict tools<\/div>\n

Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff provided updates on its wolf reintroduction plan, deer herd health and animal\u2013human conflict\u2011response tools. Officials said wolf management plans are tied to federal processes and timelines, noting this year\u2019s temporary pause on new releases and its potential impact on the Western Slope.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, the decision is no wolves coming to Colorado this capture\u2011release season. The agency still focuses efforts on increasing mitigation and minimization tools. Moving forward, we\u2019re going to reassess and there\u2019s potential for them coming into Colorado as soon as next December,\u201d said regional wildlife manager Adrian Archuleta.<\/p>\n

Archuleta said the agency is working to verify the population of new pups in at least four packs. He also mentioned a recent wolf death during a routine capture procedure, noting similar risks exist for deer and elk.<\/p>\n

He said the current wolf mortality rate, around 50\u201360%, is what the agency expected.<\/p>\n

During a question\u2011and\u2011answer discussion about private\u2011land and elk conflicts involving disturbances to seed, CPW officials told a landowner the agency can evaluate short\u2011term options, but Archuleta emphasized that larger herd\u2011management changes must follow public processes.<\/p>\n

County updates include blight ordinance and Ironwood Mill case<\/div>\n

Candelaria discussed several county updates, including the long\u2011running Ironwood Mill case, where the county sued the mill property after towering wood\u2011chip piles created a fire hazard. Fines continue to accrue at $10,000 a day, though financial recovery is unlikely. He noted that on\u2011site conditions have improved somewhat as material has been reorganized into smaller piles.<\/p>\n

He said the county expects to discuss a blight ordinance at an upcoming commissioners workshop, noting the issue was historically avoided in the 1990s because it was too controversial.<\/p>\n

On staffing, Candelaria said the county withdrew a road superintendent job listing and is instead training and promoting internally.<\/p>\n

Statehouse discussions highlight taxes and mandates<\/div>\n

Suckla delivered a wide\u2011ranging message critical of state policy and encouraged residents to stay engaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, if you\u2019re not fired up when I get done, you\u2019re going to be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He expressed concern about rising property tax bills and called for audits of state spending. He also warned about the growing energy demands of data centers and questioned whether Colorado can meet future electricity needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe data centers are coming to Colorado, they are coming big time. The second thing, they use water. They require that to cool these data centers like a car engine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"State
State Rep. Larry Don Suckla stands inside the Montezuma County Fairgrounds arena after addressing producers during the Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association\u2019s annual meeting Saturday. (Anna Watson\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Audience questions followed before the program moved to later agenda items, including fairgrounds planning updates for the summer and introductions of candidates in several upcoming elections.<\/p>\n

The association\u2019s meeting continued with a luncheon provided by the Southwestern Cowbelles and Cattlewomen and the 1 p.m. business meeting. The evening included a full lineup of events, including a dinner and dance, live auction and the naming of Cowbelle and Stockman of the Year honorees.<\/p>\n

awatson@the-journal.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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